Metro

Bayelsa: Again, Host Communities Shut Down NCDMB Building, Reject Training Of 100 Youths

Published

3 years ago

September 29, 2021

Hundreds of protesters on Wednesday, again, besieged and shut down activities at the headquarters building of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The angry protesters at the early hours of Wednesday stormed and barricaded the main entrance to the content tower, preventing visitors and workers from gaining entrance into the building.

The aggrieved youths said they rejected the offer of training just one hundred youths from the earlier agreed and approved 1000 youths from over 850 communities in the eight local government areas of the state.

Recall on Monday the protesters besieged and shut down activities at the headquarters building of the NCDMB, over the expiration of agreement and non-commencement of trainings for youths of the Oil and Gas communities.

The protesting youths who chanted solidarity songs to press home their demands, vowed never to accept anything less than 1000 youths for the first phrase of the training.

Speaking to DAILY POST, state chapter Chairman, Host Community of Nigeria producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), HRH Boma Kerekebina, said they were embarking on this peaceful protest based on their earlier agreement signed and approved by all stakeholders.

He stated that they will only accept the number of persons approved by the Bureau for Public Prosecution in a document which is 1000 youths in the first phrase in Bayelsa, adding that any other manipulation by the board will be totally rejected.

The Chairman, who was represented by the Sagbama Local Government coordinator, Mr. Safa Perekebina, disclosed that even after the board took away hundred slots from their approved 1000 and promised to train 900, they have resorted to playing tricks with the agreement.

He said, “Till now no date or venue have been communicated to the youths for the training after all documentation but rather officials of the NCDMB keep making flimsy excuses.”

According to the Executive Secretary HOSTCOM, Mr. Ofoni Ebimobowei, after several meetings, the board resorted to delay tactics.

“They told us that they can only train 100 youths because they have only N105 million naira, which we told them is unacceptable. The budget has been done and approved since 2019, and they delayed till now and they are telling us another lies, we will not accept it,” he said.

In his brief, Chief Dogibara Allison, said all they want is to make peace and the only way to go is abide by the earlier agreement, noting that the small way for the NCDMB to give back to the society is to train youths from the host communities in Bayelsa State.

When reached on the board’s reaction, the media officer to NCDMB, Mr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the board is not an agency responsible for training of youths in the state, but are for the oil and gas industry.

He added that the board will respond officially to any other claims.

Metro

2 Dead, One Injured In Ogun Road Crash

Published

5 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

The Ogun State sector of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Saturday confirmed that two persons lost their lives in a road crash around Iyana Odogo, along Ilaro-Owode road.

It added that one person sustained injury in the said accident.

This was contained in a statement issued by the FRSC spokesperson in Ogun State, Florence Okpe.

The road crash, which according to Okpe involved a Mitsubishi car with registration number JJJ854JH and a truck with registration number
T12224LA, was attributed to obstruction and speed violation.

The statement reads, “FRSC Ilaro Unit command carried out rescue operation on Ilaro-Owode route around Iyana Odogo on a crash that occurred at about 0600hrs”.

“The crash involved two vehicles;
a Mitsubishi car with registration number JJJ854JH and a truck
T12224LA”

“A total of 07 persons were involved (04 male adult and 03 female adult), and 01 female got injured while 02 male adult were killed from the crash”.

“The suspected causes of the crash were obstruction and speed violation”.

“The injured victim and corpses were taken to General Hospital, Ilaro, and Hosanna Hospital, Ilaro”.

The State Sector Commander, Anthony Uga frowned at rate at which vehicles are being picked indiscriminately on road side.

He advised motorists to drive within the stipulated speed limit and observe road furnitures.

Metro

BREAKING: Protests As Gunmen Kill 12 In Plateau Village

Published

15 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

Gunmen have again attacked the Tilengpat Pushit community in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and killed twelve persons.

It was learnt that the attacks leading to the deaths of the victims occurred in the late hours of Thursday.

Last week, gunmen killed no fewer than ten persons in Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle villages, in the Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of the state.

They also left several persons injured, with property, including the homes of the villagers, set ablaze.

The Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Markus Argue confirmed the latest killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday.

He said, “Yes, it is true that our people have just been attacked again and killed for no reason. It happened last night. As I talk to you, I’m in the affected community in Pushit. I can not give you the figure of victims for now because we are still assessing the situation but what we don’t understand is why some people will just target women and children in their homes and just kill them for no reason.”

A community leader in Pushit, who gave his name simply as John, however, told our correspondent that twelve dead bodies had so far been recovered at the scene of the attack and the nearby bush from the latest attack.

John said, “So far, we have recovered twelve dead bodies of individuals who were brutally murdered during the attack in the Pushit community and their bodies recovered.

“The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed, pending notification of their families. The Law enforcement agencies are also here and have initiated investigations into the matter to ascertain the motive behind these heinous crimes and to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this reprehensible act”

The Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred could not be immediately reached for comment on the incident but sources at the Command headquarters in Jos said that security operatives had been deployed to the affected community

Meanwhile, women in Bokkos Local Government Area have taken to the streets in protests over the renewed violent attacks by gunmen in their communities.

Some residents in Bokkos town said that the protesting women were headed to the Council headquarters to register their grievances

Details later…

Metro

Police Rescue Three Toddlers Locked Up In Lagos Home

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued three toddlers allegedly locked up in a room at Agodo-Egbe in the Ikotun area of the state.

According to The PUNCH, the children, which included a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four years, were locked inside for some time by one Fatimo Ganiyu said to be their grandmother.

Some members of the community who became curious about their whereabouts were said to have immediately alerted the police on Wednesday.

Following the tip-off, a team of policemen visited the scene and forced the door open, thereby leading to the discovery of the children in the room.

It was learnt that the kids were found looking malnourished, while the suspect was arrested on the spot.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At about 4 pm on Wednesday, information was received at Ikotun Police Division that three children, a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four, were locked up by their grandmother, one Fatimo Ganiyu, around Agodo Egbe, Ikotun.

“The DPO immediately led a team of anti-crime detectives to the scene, and the children were rescued and taken to the station.
“They were looking malnourished and unhealthy. The suspect was arrested while the infants were transferred for proper treatment and care. The investigation is ongoing.”